Door latch



J. H. ROETHEL May 5, 1953 DOOR LATCH 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. l1,1945 May 5, 1953v J. H. RoE'rHEL '2,637,581'

I DooR LATCH f Filed Jan. 11, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENToR.' l' JTOHFaee-Z BY -WTYM J. H. ROETHEL May 5, 1953 DOOR LATCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Jan. l1, 1945 J. H. ROE'IHEL May 5, 1,953

DOOR LATCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 11', 1945 Rz m, mi Sm mw MUM 1Mwww 75 LE?? El@ Patented May 5, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RoethelEngineering Corporation,

Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application January 11, 1945, SerialNo. 572,360

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to latch mechanism for swinging doors andparticularly, although not exclusively, to latch mechanism which isespecially adapted to be used in connection with the doors of vehiclebodies, such as automobile bodies. An object of the invention is toprovide a door latch-which combines in relatively simple and compactform such desirable features as quietness of operation when closing thedoor. simplicity in construction, operational efficiency `and economy inmanufacture.

In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, herein illustratedby way of example, there is provided a support on which a rotatablymovable latch device is carried for movement between a door latchedposition and a door unlatched position. A pivotally movable detent isprovided which is adapted releasably to maintain said latch device indoor latched position, said detent having a latch release position and alatch holding position. Pivotally mounted on the support is an outermanually operable detent release lever which is operable to move saiddetent from its latch holding position to its latch release position.There is also provided a locking means which is engageable with thelatch device for locking the same in door latched position.

More speciiically, the present invention incorporates a constructionwherein the rotatablelatch device has spaced abutments. The detent isengageable with first one and then a second of said abutments upon thelatch device being rotated in one direction to first and secondpredetermined positions. The locking means, which is pivotally mountedon the support, is engageable with the first one of said abutments forlocking the latch device in its second predetermined position in whichthe detent is in engagement with the second abutment. Thus, when thelocking means is in engagement with the iirst abutment and the detent isin engagement with the second abutment, the latch device is doubly held.Either the detent or the locking means may be moved out of engagementwith the ylatch unit Vwithout permitting the same to move from'door ingthe locking means out of vlatch locked position .in an intermediateposition; Afurtgher'mean's is provided which is eifective when thelocking means is in said intermediate position for moving the lockingmeans from said intermediate position into said locked position uponmovement of the latch device into door latched position.

Other objects and features of this invention will appear in thefollowing description and appended claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein likereference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inside of an automobilebody provided with swinging doors upon which latch devices made inaccordance with the present invention are installed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially throughlines 2-2 of Fig. llooking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially through lines 3-3 ofFig. 2 looking in the directionV of the arrows and showing the mechanismin fully latched position.

Fig. 4 is a view, in part similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the mechanismin unlatched position.

` Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially through lines 5 5 ofFig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a view in part similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the mechanism inthe safety latching position.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing the remotecontrol mechanism and inside locking devices.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, in part similar to Fig. 7, illustrating adiiferent position of the inside lccking mechanism.

` Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, showingthe recessed construction of the door for installation of the latchmechanism.

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing a modification utilizing adetent provided with take-up means.

Fig. ll is a fragmentary view similar to Fig.

` 10 showing the operation of the take-up means.

Fig. 12 is a section taken through lines lZ-IZ of Fig. 11 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 13 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 8 showing a modification.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its -appilcation to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capable Vof other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various Ways. Also it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated, by way of example, one embodimentof the present invention as applied to a door and door frame structure,such as that of an automobile body. As illustrated in Fig. l, theautomobile body is designated generally at A and is provided with frontand rear doors B and C, respectively. Each swinging door is hinged atone edge so as to swing against a common door post or body pillar inaccordance with conventional practice and corn-- prises an outer metaldoor panel I and an inner metal door panel II, see Fig. 9. The panel Ilterminates in a transverse jamb edge or portion I2 facing the xed jambface or edge I3 of one of the door frame posts or body pillars, see Fig.2.

The latch mechanism embodying the present invention is shown in detailas applied to the front door B of the automobile. As shown in Fig, 9,the inner door panel l l is provided at. the j amb I2 of the door with arecess I Il communicating with recesses ILic and Ifib. pressed into theinner door panel and. shaped to receive and house the latch mechanism.The latch mechanism come prises a case plate I5 having a transverselyexe tending flange I6 which t over and close the re: cess portions Ifland Illa and are rigidly secured in position by screws and suitablescrew bosses formed in the recesses, as illustrated in Fig. 9. The latchmechanism is mounted on the inner side of the case plate and, hence,when the case plate is secured in position the latch mechanism is housedwithin the recesses I4 and Ida so as t0 be fully protected. Theelongated recess I4b shown in Fig. S is constructed to receive and housethe remote control mechanism as later described.

Mounted on the case plate I 5 is a rotatably movable latch devicecomprising a bolt carrying plate or member il which is rotatable upon apivot or stud I8 in the form of a shoulder rivet secured to the caseplate. Rigidly fastened to the plate member il at a point spaced fromthe pivotal axis I3 of the plate is a cylindrical latch bolt I9. rThisbolt is thus carried by the plate ['I eccentrically thereof and projectsoutwardly in a longitudinal horizontal direction through,Y an arcuateslot 2G in the case plate and also an arur. ate slot 2| (Fig. 5) in thejamb face I3 of the door, the slots 28 and 2l registering with eachother at all times and being covered and closed by the plate Il when thedoor is open, as shown in Fig. 4. The bolt carrying plate I'l is formedon its periphery at the inner side of the pivot I3 with outwardlyinclined curved allotments 22 and 23 terminating in flat inclined detentengaging shoulders or surfaces, the abutment 22 forming the safetylocking position of the latch device and the abutment 23 forming thefinal locking position thereof. Immediately below the abutment or safetystep 22, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, the plate I'I is notched orrecessed to receive a rubber or resilient bumper 24 adapted to beengaged, as later described, by the detent so as to insure quietoperation when the door is closed.

Associated with the bolt carrying plate I1 is a detent or pawl 25 whichis pvoted to swing up and down upon a pivot stud or shoulder rivet 26secured t0 the .Case plate 5f Ii will be noted that the plate Il. asviewed from Figs. 3. i eee 6. rotatable in a counterfclockwise directionwhen the bolt moves from the unlatched position shown in Fig- 4 i0. theetching mations Shave in Fiss 3 and 6. The detent is, therefore, pivotedat 26 below the locking plate I1 and at its end is notched to provide adog or detent portion 25a; engageable successively with the abutments 22and 23 when the door is closed. The surface of the engaging portion 25aof the detent is arcuate and is formed on a radius having its center onthe pivotal axis of the detent formed by the pivot stud 26. Thisconstruction enables the contacting portion 25a of the detent to swingireely into and out of position below the abutments 22 and 2 3. Theportion 25a of the detent terminates in an upwardly extending shoulder25h providing a stop limiting the distance that the detent may moveinwardly on the abutment 23. The portion 25a of the detent may moveinwardly against the inclined or cam surface 23 varying distances toprovide a take-up action effective to hold the bolt tightly in nallocking position.

It will be seen that the detent 25 formeJ one arm of an integral two-armbell crank lever having at the opposite side of the pivot 26 arelatively.

long upwardly extending lever arm 2 of the de: sired length to furnishpowerful leverage in the release of the detent such as by means of apush button control. The detent 25 is provided iinmediately below theworking portion 25d thereof.

with an anti-friction roller 23 journalled at 29 on the detent. rthisroller is positioned so as to contact the contoured edge of the plate Iland reduce frictional resistance to the rotation of the plate under theaction of its spring from the lool:- ing position shown in Fig. 3 to theunlocking posi-A tion shown in Fig. 4 at the time the door is opened. Aswill be readily seen from the drawings, the detent portion Ze, by virtueof the eounter-clock-- wise movement of the bolt carrying plateI'l..

looks the plate against clockwise movement when in engagement witheither of the abutment-s 2 2 or 23.

The bolt carrying plate I'I is constantly urged toward bolt unlatchingposition shown in Fig. l and the detent is constantly urged toward theplate I'I by means of a coirmon spring means 30 which in the presentintance is in the form of a compound coil spring. The spring 33 'nas anumber of large diameter coils 4I concentric with the stud I 8 andanchored at its end 32 to the plate I' I. The spring also has a coiledportion 3. at a distance below the pivot stud I8. From this portion thespring wire is xtended outwardly and upwardly and the end thereof isanchored at 34 to the detent lever arm 2l. The lighter or weaker*lspring portion 3 I, having the larger coils, tends at all times toimpart clockwise rotative movement to the plate I'I while the heavier orstronger coil portion 33 at all times exerts an effort outwardlyr on thelever arm 2'! tending to impart rotative movement to the detent 25 in acounter-clockwise direction about its pivotal axis 2G. It will beunderstood that when the spring 30 is installed it is loaded so as toexert constant rotative ellort on the bolt carrying plate and detentlever in the manner above described. By virtue of the foregoingconstruction it will, therefore, be seen that a single spring means may.be utilized to control the plate I'I and the detent lever 25, thisspring providing a direct connection between these parts.

The lever arm 21 of the detent projects upwardly at the outer side ofthe pivot I8 well above the working portion 25a of the detent and ispro-` vided with a vertical oilset portion 21a merging into an inclinedcam portion 2lb, these portions providing suitable flat bearingsurfaces. The en-v larged or widened portion 21a is disposedforenasomar.

gagement by a push button plunger 35 manually op-erable from the outsideof the door. The plunger is urged into retracted position by acompression spring 36 (Fig. 2), housed within a recess 3'1 in an outsideiixed door handle or plunger housing 38. By pushing the plunger 35inwardly against the action of the spring 3 t in the direction of thearrow in Fig. 3 and against the bearing portion 27a the lever arm 27will be swung inwardly, thereby rocking the detent and forcing itsWorking portion 25a out of abutting relation with the final locking step23 (Fig. 3) or the safety locking step 22 (Fig. 6). When this occurs thespring portion 3| will rotate the bolt carrying plate I1 clockwise tothe position shown in Fig. 4.

Pivoted to the case plate I5 by means of a pivot stud or shoulder rivet39 is a bell crank lever 40 having a depending short arm 4l terminatingin a cam face 4 la slidably engaging the cam portion 2lb of the detentlever. The bell crank 43 also has an inwardly and horizontally extendinglong lever arm 42 terminating in a widened or oifset bearing end 42aoverlying and in engagement with the widened or embossed end i3d of abell crank lever 43 pivoted to the case plate by means oi a pivot studor shoulder rivet 44 (see Figs. 3 and 7). The lever 43 has an upwardlyextending arm @3b to which is pivoted at 135 the inner end of a remotecontrol link 26. This link extends longitudinally through the elongatedrecessed portion leb in the inner door panel Il (Fig. 9) and the outerend of the link is pivoted at lll to the lower end of a crank arm 48fastened to the shaft t!) of the inner door handle 53. The shaft 59 isjournalled in a bracket plate 5! secured to the inner door panel and thelever i8 as well as the remote control link i6 and the bell crank 43 areall urged or yieldingly held in their positions shown in Fig. 7 by meansof aleaf spring 52 having a wedge shaped portion 52a normally extendinginto a V-shaped notch in the upper end of the lever 31.3.

The working end 43a of the bell crank d3 is yieldingly held by spring 52slightly out oi engagement with the end 52a of the lever 42, a slightclearance being normally provided at this point to permit take-up in thelever arm t2 due to turna ing eiTort exerted on the lever 4B by thedetent lever arm 2T under the action of spring 33. Lever arm 42 issupported on a soft rubber bumper @2b which will yield sufficiently topermit take-up movement of the arm toward part 530,. It will beunderstood that by turning the inside door handle 50 to the right fromits position shown in Fig. '7, the bell crank levers t3 and 52 will. berocked about their pivotal axes and the lower end il of the lever l2will be moved inwardly thereby rocking the detent lever about itspivotal axis and thus forcing the detent out of abutting relation witheither the safety locking step 22 or the nal locking step 23.

In accordance with the present invention addi tional means is providedfor locking the holt oarrying plate V! in the position shown in Fig. 3when the latch device has been moved to the final locking position. Thisadditional locking means comprises a locking lever 53 pivoted at 5ft tothe case plate iiange I6 at the inner side of the bolt carrying plateil. The lever is embossed at 5ta to provide a widened portion having anupper wedge shaped or tapering contacting face 53h adapted to engagebeneath the safety locking step or abutment 22 when the latch device isin final locking position. The lever 53 is guided in its swinging motionVabout its fulcrum 54 by means of an arcuate slot 55 inthe lever throughwhich extends aguidepin or stud 56 securedto the'ase plate. Pivotediat51 to the leverl 53 is avertically ex tending rod or plungerA 58 adaptedto project through the garnish molding at the lower edge of'v the windowopening andcarrying a knob or button 59i at its upper en d,`as shown inFig. 1. TheV knob 59 is accessible at the inner side of the window glassof the doorand when pushed down will shift the plunger 58 downwardly toswing the lever 53 from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the positionshown in Fig. 8, thereby swinging the locking projection 53a 'of thelever out froml beneath the safety locking shoulder 22 thus releasing orunlocking the plate H. Upward movement ofthe plunger 58 will swing thelever 53 in the reverse direction thereby shifting the locking or detentportion 53a of the lever into position beneath the shoulder 22, thuslocking the plate `l'l against rotative movement toward unlatchedposition of the bolt. The operative locking position of the lever'53 isshown in Figs. 3 and 7. The in'- clined contacting portion 53h of the1ockingprojection 53a will produce awedging engagement with the face ofthe shoulder 22, thus causing the portion` 53h to engage y:the lockingshoulder 22 firmly and also provide-a take-up to compensate for thetake-up action of the detent portion 25a, on thebolt carrying plate |1.l

It is important to note from the foregoing co struction that the lockinglever 53, controlled by the push and pull plunger 58 from the inside ofthe door, is operated entirely independently of the detent 25 and willbeeffective to hold the latch device, that is, the plate I1 and latch boltin the fully latched position thereof irrespective of operation ofeither the outside push button plunger 35 or the inside door handle 5Uto release the detent 25 by operation of the'detent lever arm I21.Hence, with the inside locking lever 53 in its locking position showninFigs. 3 and 7, either the inside handle 50 or the outside push button orplunger 35 may be freely ,actuated to shift the detent 25 away fromlocking engagement with the final locking .step23 without, however,unlocking the door. With the plate l1 locked by the lever 53, therefore,the inside door handle 50 becomes a free turning handle which may beturned freely without unlocking the door and, in addition, the outsidepush button or plunger 35 becomes a free pushing plunger which may bepressed at will without unlocking the door. The locking lever 53 has theadditional advantage of providing in conjunction with the `detent 25 twoseparate means for locking the'latch bolt in its final locking position,each independent of the other, thus ensuring greater safety in the useofthe vehicle. i

The plate forming the lever 53 is yieldingly controlled-by means of aspring 6U having one or more yintermediate coils terminating in arms 6|and 52 anchored at their ends 63 and 64, respectively, to the case plateflange I6 and the lever 53. .As it will be understood that the lockingprojection 53a ofthe lever is only capable of rn'oving'into lockingpositioniwith respect to the safety step 22 when 'the door isv fullyclosed and: plate I7V in the' position of Fig. 3, this lockingprojection will engage the face of the plate l1 if the lever is swung tothe left from the position of Fig. 8 by plunger 535m any other posimonof thebolt Carrying plate 11. Thus, tile plate I1, when the' doorA isopen, stops theflocking projection 53a from going-fully home totheposition of Fig..'1.' It fo11ows ,-therefore',thatthe relativepositionsV of thelspring'cnnections `63 assu-s1' and 64A will determineywhether the spring will pull or retract the lever 53 back to theposition of Fig. 8 in case the locking projection 53a has not gone fullyhome after release' of the button 59, or whether the spring will holdthe locking projection against the plate IT after release of the button59 and thereafter will for'ce the projection home to the positions ofFigs. 3 and 8 when the door is closed. The point of connection S4 of thespring to the lever 53 will always travel above a dead center lineextending through the point 63 and the pivotal axis 54 of the lever 53when the lever goes fully hometo the locking position of Figs. 3 and 7.This arrangement enables the spring 60 to hold the lever 53 in lockedposition. In the construction shown in Fig. 8 the point 64, althoughbelowv the vdead center line, is suciently close thereto so that it willpass above the dead center line when the locking projection 53a abutsagainst the face of the plate Il'. Under thisv condition the spring willhold the lever in this vposition and when the plunger 58 is released thespring will force the lever into the locked position of Fig. 7 just asSoon as plate I'lv is rotated to the position of Fig. 3. Thus, in thisembodiment the plunger 58 may be pulled up with the door open until thelever 53 is stopped by engagement with the face of plate Il, and sincethe spring at this time has passed dead center it will hold the leveragainst the plate and will force the lever into its locking positionwhen the door is closed. In the modication shown in Fig. 13 the point ofconnection 64 of the spring 60 is a greater distance below the deadcenter line and this distance is such that the point 64 will not passdead center when the lever is swung into engagement with the plate I'lwith the door in open position. Thus, as soon as the plunger 58 isreleased the spring will return the lever to a position similar to thatshown in Fig. 8 and the door' will remain unlocked when closed.

It will be seen that the latch bolt I9 is movable between unlatching andlatching positions in an arcuate path as defined by the arcuate slots 20and 2|. The bolt is actuated when the door is closed by means ofy astriker device which is preferably mounted on the jamb edge I3 of thepillar or fixed upright member of the door frame. In the presentinstance the striker device comprises a pressed metal plate 65 which isstamped into a hollow generally rectangular member adapted to be securedto the door jamb by screws 56. The striker plate is formed with a curvedslot 61 open at its lower end and extending inwardly and upwardly asshown in Fig. 5. The upper end of the slot 61 is formed by a recess in aresilient rubber bumper 68 and the lower face of the bumper as well asthis recess therein is lined or covered by means of a thin spring steelliner member 69 having its ends anchored in notches 10 in the sides ofthe bumper. The spring liner provides a metal wear resisting surfacebetween the rubber bumper and the bolt while enabling the bolt tocompress the bumper somewhat when the bolt is forced through the slot 6linto the upper end thereof. It Will be noted that the upper end of theslot 61 has a generally vertically extending outer wall engaged by thebolt and which positively prevents outward movement of the bolt when inits inal locking position shown in Fig. 5.

Secured to the jamb edge of the door and pro-` jecting outwardly andlongitudinally thereof is a horizontally extending cylindrical stud 'Hupon which is revolubly mounted a steel roller 12. This roller isadapted to engage and roll over the upper inclined or wedge face 65a ofthe striker casing G5 during closing movement of the door. Thecooperation of the roller 12 and striker casing B5 ensures properclosing movement of the door, thus causing the bolt to enter properlythe lower end of the slot el and also provides a substantially positivemeans for holding the door against downward movement as a result ofvibrations incident to the operation of the vehicle. Thus, with the bolti9 and roller l2 in their respective positions shown in Fig. 5, the doorwill be held against any substantial vertical movement hy thecooperative action of the bolt and roller. Since the spring liner 'IUcovers the entire lower surface of the rubber bumper as Well as the boltrecess therein, it will transmit the force of impact of the boltthroughout the crosssection of the bumper. This construction provides aVery quiet closing door and also permits the bolt to occupy slightlydiierent vertical positions, when the bolt is home, thereby compensatingfor variations or tolerances. The' dovetai'l roller i2 is particularlyadvantageous not only in providing an easy closing action of the door bythe elimination of frictional resistance but also in permitting therelatively iight main spring portion 3| to move the bolt t9 out of thesio't ill when the push button or handle is operated to reiease thedetent 25. Although the striker casing and bumper 6s are tightly clampedin the closed position of the door between the bolt i9 and roller thisaction wiil not provide undue counterresistance to the action of thespring 3l when the detent is released as the roller 'l2 will roll freelydown the incline 55a, thus permitting the spring to pull the bolt out ofthe slot 8l. Easy and quiet operation is also enhanced by the detentroller 'fifi and the rubber bumper 24 below the safety locking step. Theroller 28 will roll with a minimum of frictional resistance over thecontoured edge of the plate il, both in closing and opening the door,and in particular will hold the detent away from the edge, thusrelieving the spring 3@ of frictional resistance which otherwise wouldoccur by the detent riding on the edge of the plate. Objectionable noisenormally occurring when the detent passes the safety step is minimizedby causing the roller 23 and detent portion 25a to strike the bumper 24at this locality.

In the embodiment of Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive the construction of thelatch mechanism and striker mechanism is the same as in the previouslydescribed embodiment excepting that somewhat different means is providedfor taking-up slig t variations in bolt travel at the closed position ofthe door. These variations may not only be due to tolerances, wear orinaccuracies in production but also to variations in the resiliency ofthe usual rubber weatherstripping on the body around the margin of thedoor opening and against which the door contacts when closed. Thisweatherstripping will yield slightly under the closing impact of thedoor. When new the weatherstripping will rebound from the impact andforce the door outwardly a slight amount, but after age and usage theweatherstripping will more and more take a set due to loss ofresiliency. As a result of these factors it is important, in obtainingrelatively tight closing of the door even after usage, that an ehcienttake-up means be provided, such as a take-up on the order ofapproximately three thirty seconds of an inch in bolt travel. This isaccomplished in the embodiment of Figs. 10 to 12 by improved detentmeans coacting with the bolt carrying plate Pivotally mounted on thestud 26 at one side of the detent member 25 and in mutually contactingrelation are a pair of detent members 18 and I9 which correspondsubstantially to detent member 25 excepting that ,their working edges18a and 19a are stepped successively further from the pivot 25 than theWorking edge 25a. of detent 25, as clearly seen in Fig. 12. The platemember Il is thickened to permit engagement thereof byV the additionaldetents 18 and 19, this being accomplished by spot-welding pieces 8U and8| to the face of the plate and contouring these pieces to conformexactly to the contour of the edge of the late. Accordingly the portions80 and 8| are provided with detent steps or shoulders corresponding toshoulder 23 and registering with and terminating flush therewith. Thedetent members I3 and I9 are urged toward the plate portions B and 8| byleaf springs 82 and 83 anchored at S4 to the case plate.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that normally when closing thedoor the plate IT will be rotated to a door closing position permittingthe first detent member 25 to be projected beneath the locking step 23,thus holding the door in fully closed position as shown in Fig. 10. Atthis time the second and third detents 78 and 'IS will contact the outeredges of pieces 8l) and 8| and will not of course go home beneath thedetent shoulders thereof. In the event the door when closed carries thebolt a slight distance further within slot 28 and correspondinglyrotates the plate |l' a slight distance beyondthe position of Fig. 10,then one or both of the detent members 18 and 'I9 will be forced bytheir springs beneath the detent shoulders of pieces 80 and 8| Figs. 10and 11 show the position of the plate when locked by detent member 18which has been forced home by its spring 82 while the detent 19 is heldout of locking position. F'urther rotation of the plate resulting fromtighter closing of the door will permit spring 83 to force its detent T9beneath the shoulder of piece 8|. It will be apparent that the maximumtake-.up provided in the latch device will be determined by the distancebetween the planes of the working edges 25a and 19a of the rst and thirddetents. This distance may vary as desired and furthermore the number ofdetents may vary depending upon the compensating or take-up actiondesired. The outer edge of detent member 25 `is provided with atransverse tongue or projection 85 adapted to contact and overlie thecorresponding edges of detents 18 and 19 when the latter are in Workingpositions. Hence, when lever arm 21 is swung inwardly to release thebolt the tongue 85 will carry the detents 18 and 19 with the detent 25out of locking position with respect tothe plate permitting spring 30 torotate the plate clockwise to the position of Fig. 4 when the ydoor isopened. t In each of the embodiments improved means is provided forrotating the plate 53 into and out of locking position by means of a keyfrom the outside of the door. Accordingly, the plate 53 is formed with adepending crank extension or lever arm 13 to which is pivoted at 14 theupper end of a crank arm I secured to a shaft or stud 'l5 journalled 'ina bracket in thev `case plate and having a square opening `or socket toreceive a key actuated shaft 11. The shaft is connected tothe cylindermechanism of any, conventional lock having the usual key control. Byturning the key in the lock from the outside of the door the crank arm'|5 may be swung to the right in Fig. 8 thereby rotating the plate 53 tothe position of Fig. l in the same manner as the plate is rotated byraising plunger rod 58. Reverse turning of the key will of course movethe locking projection out from beneath step 22 and unlock the door.

Y, I claim:

1. In a door latch mechanism, a support having a plate portion fordisposition at the free edge wall of the door and having a angeextending from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch device havingspaced abutments, means mounting said latch device on said plate portionfor movement about an axis normal to the plane of v the plate portion,detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion for movement aboutan axis substantially parallel to the axis of said latch device, saiddetent means being engageable with rst one and then a second of saidabutments upon said latch device being rotated in one direction to firstand second predetermined positions, said detent means upon engagementwith said abutments preventing `rotation of said latch device in theopposite direction, locking means pivotally mounted on said support andengageable with said first one of said abutments for locking said latchdevice in said second predetermined position in which said detent meansis in engagement with said second abutment, means for shifting saidlocking means into and out of engagement with said latch device, andmanually operable means including a lever pivotally mounted on saidplate portion for movement about an axis parallel to said latch deviceaxis and connected to said detent means for disengaging the same fromsaid latch device without disturbing said locking means.

2. In a door latch mechanism, a support having a plate portion fordisposition at the free edge Wall of the door and having a flangeextending from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch deviceincluding a plate member having spaced abutments, means mounting saidlatch device on said plate portion for movement about an axis normal tothe plane of the plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on saidplate portion for movement about an axis substantially parallel to theaxis of said latch device, said detent means being engageable with firstone and then a second of said abutments upon said latch device beingrotated in one direction to rst and second predetermined positions, saiddetent means upon engagement with said abutments preventing rotation ofsaid latch device in the opposite direction, locking means pivotallymounted on said flange and engageable with said rst one of saidabutments for locking said latch device in said second predeterminedposition in which said detent means is in engagement with said secondabutment, means for shifting said locking means into and out ofengagement with said latch device, said latch device plate member havinga portion thereof adapted to lie in the path of movement of said lockingmeans except when said latch device is in said second predeterminedposition thereby preventing shifting of said locking means into lockingposition at any other time, and manually operable means including alever pivotally mounted on said plate portion for movement about an axisparallel to .said latch device axis and connected to said detent meansfor disengaging the same from said latch device Without disturbingls'ai'd locking means.

3. In a door latch mechanism, a support having a plate portion fordisposition at the free edge Wall of the door and having a flangeextend'- ing from the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch devicehaving spaced abutments, means mounting said latch device on said plateportion for movement about an axis normai to theplane oi the plateportion, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion formovement about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said latchdevice, said detent means being engageable with rst one and then asecond of said abutments upon said latch device being rotated in onedirection to iirst and second predetermined positions, said detent meansupon engagement with said abutments preventing rotation of said latchdevice'in the opposite direction, locking means pivotally mounted onsaid support and engageable with said nrst one of said abutlnents iorlocking said latch device in said second'. predetermined position inwhich said detent means is in engagement with said second abutment,manually operable means including a lever pivotall'y mounted on saidplate portion for movement about an axis parallel to said latch deviceaxis and connected to said detent means for disengaging the same fromsaid latch device, manually operable means for disengaging said lockingmeans from said latch member without disturbing said detent means.

4. In a door latch mechanism, a support having a plate portion fordisposition at the free edge Wall of the door and having a iiangeextending irorn the inner edge thereof, a rotatable latch deviceincluding a plate member having spaced abutments, means mounting saidlatch device on said plate portion for movement about an axis normal tothe plane of the plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on saidplate portion for movement about an axis substantially parallel to theaxis of said latch device, said detent means being engageable with nrstone and then a second of said abutments'upon said latch device beingrotated in one direction to first and second; predetermined positions,said detent means upon engagement with said abutments preventingrotation of said latch device in the opposite direction,- locking meanspivotally mounted on said iiange and engageable with said first one ofsaid abutments for locking said latch device in said secondpredetermined position in which said detent means is in engagement withsaid second abutment, means for shifting said locking means into: andout of engagement with said latch device, said latch device plate memberhaving a portion thereof adapted to lie in the path of movement of saidlocking means except when said latch device is in said secondpredetermined position thereby preventing shifting of said locking meansinto locking position at any other time, and manually operable meansincluding a lever pivotallv mounted on said plate portion for movementabout an axis parallel to said latch device axis and connected to saiddetent means for disengaging the same from said latch device Withoutdisturbing said locking means, said lever axis being coincident withsaid detent means axis.

5. In a door latch mechanism, a support having a plate portion fordisposition at the free edge Wall of the door and having a ilangeextendingy from the inner edge thereof, a. rotatable latch deviceincluding a plate member having spaced abutments, means mounting saidlatch device' on 112 said: platey portion for movement about. an axis'normal to the plane of the plate portion, detent,` means pivotallymounted on said plate portion for movement about an axis substantiallyparallel to the axis oi said latch device,l said detentmeans beingengageable With nrst one and then a secondi oi said abutinents upon saidlatch device being' rotated in one direction to rst and second pre-ldetermined positions, said detent means uponl engagement withsaid'abutments preventing rotation of said latch device in the oppositedirection, locking' means pivotally mounted on said flange andengageable with said rst one of said abut-I ments for locking said latchdevice in said second; predetermined position in which said detent meansis in engagement with said second abutment, means for shifting saidlocking means into and out of engagement with said latch device, saidlatch device plate member having a portion thereof adapted to 'lie inthe path of movement of said locking means except when said latch deviceis in second predetermined position thereby preventing shifting of saidlocking means into locking position at any other time, and manually voperable means including a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portionfor movement about an axis parallel to said latch device axis andconnected to said detent means for disengaging the same from latchdevice without disturbing said locking means, said means for shiftingsaid locking means including spring means, said spring means beingeiiective upon said locking means being shifted a predetermined distancefrom nonlocliing position toward locking position to hold said lockingmeans against said portion of the latch device until the latch devicereaches said second predetermined position whereupon said spring meansWill urge said locking means into engagement with said rst one ofabutments.

6. In a door control mechanism, a supporta movable latch device carriedby said support for movement between a door latched position and a doorunlatched position, spring means for urging said latch device at alltimes toward said door unlatched position, a pivotally movable detentadapted releasably to maintain said latch device in door latchedposition and having a latch release position and a latch holdingposition, an outer manually operable detent release lever pivotallymounted on said support and oper-r able to move said detent from saidlatch holding position to said latch release position, locking meansengageable with said latch device for blocking the same and therebypreventing move'- ment thereof by said spring means from door latchedposition to door unlatched position, said locking means having a latchunlocked position and a latch locked position, means eiTective when saidlatch device is out of door latched position forv holding said lockingmeans out of latch locked position in an intermediate position, andmeans effective when said ylocking means is in said intermediateposition for moving lsaid locking means from said intermediate positionin to said locked position upon movement of said latch device into doorlatched position.

'7. In a door control mechanism, a support, a. movable latch devicecarried by said support for movement between a door latched position anda door unlatched position, spring means for urging said latch device atall times toward said `door unlatched position, a pivotally movabledetent adapted rcleasably to maintain said latch devicein door latchedposition and having a latch release position and a latch holdingposition, an

13 outer manually operable detent release lever pivotalvly mounted onsaid support and operable to move said detent from said latch holdingposition to said latch release position, said detent and release leverbeing pivotally mounted on said support to swing about a common pivotalaxis, lool-:ing means engageabie With said latch device for blocking'the same and thereby preventing movement thereof by said spring meansfrom door latched position to door unlatched position, said lockingmeans having a latch unlocked position and a latch locked position,means eieotive when said latch device is out of door latched positionfor holding said locking means out of latch locked position in anintermediate position, and means eiective when said locking means is insaid intermediate position for moving said locking means from saidintermediate position into said looked position upon movement of saidlatch device into door latched position.

JOHN H. ROETHEL.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber 14 Name Date Lecellier Mar. 17, 1891 Coulter Mar. 15, 1892Schmittberger Aug. 20, 1912 Olson May 15, 1917 Tompkins et al Jan. 15,1918 Anderson Apr. 23, 1918 Anderson Mar. 22, 1921 Anderson Aug. 30,1921 Mueller Nov. 21, 1922 Augenbraun Aug. 19, 1924 Watts July 7, 1925Mooney Sept. 3, 1935 Gudrnundsen Oct. 15, 1935 Rightmyer Feb. 11, 1936Sohonitzer Sept. 28, 1937 Anderson Oct. 12, 1937 Butler Jan. 16, 1940Anderson July 30, 1940 Lakin Feb, 11, 1941 Johnson Apr. 29, 1941 DallJune 24, 1941 Marple Nov. 10, 1942 Dall Nov. 2, 1943 Dall Mar. 21, 1944Endter Apr. 10, 1945

